New-York tribune., 1887-11-22
THE DRAMA---MUSIC.
TIE NEW oPERETrA.

Mr. McCaun produced Tho Bcsum' at tho f1nn
Avenue Theafse last night. and this morning no Is
probably contemplating prospect OF .nc Nna .na.
Sr.nes joy to the managerial heart For Tho Begun
= humorous albeit with vulgar humor; 1t Is pctu-
,ssoucy attired: II has music Of which ct ieast may
\, said that 1t be comprehended go Tar IS neoa DO
,,thout any moro effort than Is required to appreciate
. minstrel song 1t has . story with concet at 'ho
hoatom Of which clever enough to support iramo
york of rhymes and verses and elastic enough to allow
,nboundcd scope for those comicd absurditics whch
rho low comedian of tho operetta stage has long
An the habit of injecting into all plays with music
r.rd,ess of their effect upon the comedy "The 10.
m. has now the prestige Of having actually amused
= rst-night audience.
=. ,,,, we think, bc success, much because Of
-. ~ It's defects as In spite Of Others. As work
claim TO an honorable designation 1t is defective
.a' % chimes almost wholly by reflected light but
-. s.,.ct Is not likely to hurt Its popularity. OP
w" ,a,enccs arc not critical after once they have
e..a ea heartily and, II they arc compelled In The
r,s N recognize somewhat slavlsh Imitation IN
- words and mnslc' their resentment s.oppoa "
oo'n the limitations arc clever and the models
tho iA'. ro an experienced listener who has prac-
admirs "a, ~ discrimination, II Is obvious that had
nsed 'ho ro Mihado" there would mover have been
tnoro o ~ and had thero nevcr boon Giocrt ana
begun. confederation Of Harry d. Smith and Regi-
en'.' =. Koven would have TO % chronloied
naid ,or their forms, but also for their thoughts,
lkorsG
the . su'po. Mfr. Smith, whter Of the book works
Ens'is orhort,. last work with moro freedom and
o'o' Az n, Kcyen docs over Sir Arthur 6ullivans
os'0 u.n have considerable ingenuity, and II thcy
~" ,yant fccitously, they apply clcvcrly In all
49,. sxoept those which belong to construction MT
,r, tnows better than to Introduce al his charac-
~ one aftor tho other each with astoreotypeo nnd OF
sm,ncs .oux and Sir Arthur Sullivsn II he repeats
sr,,s in manner q: loss puts variety OF rhythm and
".,ody into each now score. His Mikado" pieces
NAV chow resemblance in physiognomy to the pieces
N ItieIeo tt: they not all copies "f each other
TSey .,e merely rela.ed, no: twins Mr.. Do Koven
alters from the majority Of his colleagues among oIor-
e,a composers in having put his best music IN tho
second act A quartet, "We Think, and Minds salu-
brons Have Often Thought Before" two duets, In
the Carnage Of scrimmage" and Love-At Last Two
Met My Fatc." and a ballad "she Love Is Fair and
Ouccny' arc worth all else In tho score. We would
Include also the Begums" song, "what Though My
Grcfs Can Not Be Called Extensve" 1t not that
IN this tho question of property asserts itself so
mportunately Is not to admit OF praise 10
KoSen Obviously to Bss piece Of music
with Oriental color. 1t may be Irish, IL Is certaniy
ans !ss S O
ecterisc rhythms and melodio Intervals peculiar TO
us to Sscs n% to s sas
Tho Begun. is humorous chiefly becanse Mr.. NC,
S has M ao sed
feres with their desire or their methods to anus Mr.
De Angels Mr.. Hopper, Mr. Bell and Mr.. Nc DonOugh
eli exert themselves each In his own way, to cause
diversion and the librettlst having given them fuli
scope thcy sncceed. Miss Manola, Mr.. WilRe and
Mr. IIof care for the romantic element In tho play,
and are most successful In the musical as well while
Mrs Bell and Madame Co trelly, while they achieve
fair results, are embarrassed by the fact that the
characters have striking individuality. Miss Annie
ens so we'll In 1t that her impersonation OF Nautch
dancer belongs In the front rank Mr. Dc koven
bowed his thanks from tho stage after the Ist act,
which was followed by hearty applause.